Do you feel nervous or shy when teaching online? Here are five simple tips to help you boost your confidence and feel more comfortable while teaching.
Whether you are an online EFL teacher or a school teacher conducting online lessons, it can be intimidating to teach in front of a camera or during a live video conference, especially if it’s your first time. Even if there’s no face-to-face interaction with students, some teachers feel camera-shy, and unfortunately, it affects their performance during lessons. However, with time, skill, and practice, you will become more comfortable and confident teaching online. To help you out, here are five tips that you should keep in mind.
Come to the session well-prepared
Preparation is key to a smooth lesson flow. Make sure you have read your lesson material at least once beforehand. The more you know and understand the lesson, the more you can explain or provide examples when needed. It will also help you avoid rambling.
Take note that practice is also part of preparing for your lessons. If you can, practice teaching the lesson with a family member or friend. Rehearse enunciating your words and improving your body language and facial expression. Knowing that you’re well-prepared for the lesson will make you feel more comfortable and confident while teaching in front of a camera.
Wear comfortable clothes
Wear clothing that makes you feel good. As long as it follows the dress code, feel free to wear your favorite clothes to give you that extra boost of confidence and comfort. Proper grooming will also make you look and feel fresh and excited. Remember that dressing up professionally will not only make you feel better but will also project a better on-camera presence to your students.
Talk more slowly
When people feel nervous, they tend to speak faster. If you talk fast during lessons, your student won’t be able to catch and understand what you're saying. Speaking more slowly will not only help your students understand the lesson but also make you feel more relaxed and in control. Slowing it down also allows you to put weight or emphasis on your words, making you seem more confident and knowledgeable.
Check your body language
Body language can show who you are and how you feel. Conversely, it could also shape your feelings and mindset. As Amy Cuddy said during TEDGlobal, power posing can boost your confidence even when you don’t feel confident in the first place.
When teaching online, sit up straight, make eye contact with the camera, and speak clearly and loudly. Don’t forget to use your hands when teaching so you don’t look and feel stiff. Be disciplined and consistent in projecting your body language so you won’t lose your newfound confidence.
Don’t forget to smile
According to neurologist Dr. Isha Gupta from IGEA Brain and Spine, smiling produces the hormones dopamine and serotonin that increase a person’s happiness and reduce stress. This means you can trick your brain into thinking that you are actually happy, eliminating your nervousness and making you feel more comfortable while teaching. So when you feel nervous, go ahead and flash your best smile!
Just be yourself
The best way to feel more comfortable and confident when teaching online is to be yourself! Showing your personality, while staying professional, can not only eliminate your fears or worries while teaching, but also help establish rapport with your students.
With 51Talk, new teachers on the platform undergo thorough training to help them be ready for their first lesson. Moreover, 51Talk offers growth opportunities, such as free TESOL certification, to help teachers improve their skills and gain more confidence in teaching. Join 51Talk today and get the support you need to teach English online confidently.
51Talk is looking for thousands of home-based online teachers to give one-on-one English lessons. You can earn up to Php80K as a full-time teacher and enjoy a wide range of perks –
